Nonslipping plate holder



Oct. 18, 1932. R. STURM 1,883,081

NONSLIPPING PLATE HOLDER Filed Oct. 26, 1928 Moi 29h 5 Zu/rm/ Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES RUDOLPH STURM, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA NONSLIIPING PLATE HOLDER Application filed October 26, 1928. Serial No. 315,319.

My invention relates to a new and usefulimprovement in a non-slipping plate holder especially adapted for use in holding etching plates and the like, where it is necessary to hold the plate firmly against slipping and twisting, and to keep it well under control at all times.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a pincher or plier-like holder with a substantially hollow jaw or tongue which is formed to support most of the weight of the plate and to give a substantial bearing for the plate.

It is also a feature of my invention to have a shoulder projecting to either side of the jaws of the holder at right angles to the lower tongue of the holder and formed as an integral part of the lower jaw. This shoulder is designed to bear a portion of the wei ht of the plate, and to keep the plate from turning or twisting even though it may be much larger than the holder itself.

A further feature of my invention is to provide an upper jaw or tongue on my holder relatively smaller than the lower jaw, and of just sufiicient size to enable the operator to put suflicient pressure between the jaws to prevent the plate from slipping. This elim inates marring or scratching of a large portion of the plate by the teeth on the upper jaw.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive tool which is easily manufactured and which willenable the operator to handle large plates which may be too hot to touch with the hands, or which may be covered with acids detrimental to the skin, without danger of having them slip or twist out of his control.

The structure of my invention is shown in preferred form on the drawing forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my holder.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an alternate construction of the holder.

Figure 3 is a side view of the holder.

My holder A is formed with crossed and pivoted handles 10 and 11 of plier-like or tong-like construction. These handles are pivoted at 12 so that the grip of a hand on the handles 10 and 11, tending to bring the upper and lower handles closer together, will tend to press the upper and lower jaws 13 and 14 together, or to grip tightly anything between a rest solidly and firmly against the tongue 14.

If the particular work for which my holder is used should be of a nature wherein it is desirable to be able to insert the lower jaw 14 beneath the plate when the plate is lying on a smooth fiat surface without the need of first lifting the edge of the plate to allow the nose or end 18 to be inserted, my holder may be constructed with a tongue 14 which tapers to athin edge at the nose or end 18. j i

In this type of construction, however, the lower jaw would necessarily be weaker near the end 18. To compensate for the diminishing thickness of the lower jaw 14, I provide the alternate type of lower jaw 19 shown in Figure 2. As the jaw 19 decreases in thickness, it increases in width, thus compensating for the weakness caused by having a tapered thickness. This type of jaw also has a smoothupper surface 20 and has the advantage of being wide enough to help keep the plate, resting upon its upper surface 20, from tipping to one side.

The upper jaw 13 is of substantial thick-' ness to enable the operator to put a great pressure between the jaws without danger of breakage. The lower surface 21 is equipped with teeth 22 or knurling to keep the plate 17 from slipping when being held. This lower surface 21 maybe designed to rest squarely upon a plate of certain thick 16 which is adapted'to allow the plate 17 to l ion ness and will hold most firmly when used for plates of approximately that size.

At the inner end of the jaws integral with and extending to either side of the lower jaw at right angles to said jaws,'l provide an angular shoulder member 23. This shoulder member is adapted to bear a portion of the weight of tl e plate and to assist to keep the plate from sliding to the side when held in my holder. One inner surface 24 of the angle portion 23 is flush with the smooth upper surface 16 of the lower jaw, as is shown in Figure 3. This allows the plate to be supported by the surface 24 as well as the lower jaw surface 16 or 20, and also allows the edge 25 of the plate 17 to rest against the other inner angle surface 26. This structure prevents any twisting or turning of the plate when it is being handled.

The operation of my tool is simple and it is used in the same manner common to any pliers or pinchers with which I am familiar. The tool is easily and inexpensively manufactured, and has a valuable utility at small expense. In handling plates of various sizes which cannot well be handled with the hands,

such as heated plates or etching plates covered with harmful acids, it is of especial high value.

WVhile I have endeavored to set forth the best imbodiment of my invention, it is readily apparent that obvious changes may be made in the detail within the scope of the following claims without departing from the 'spiri of my invention.

I claim:

1. A. plier-like plate holder including an upper aw, a lower jaw extending outwardly beyond the end of the upper jaw and an angle member extending transversely of said lower 2. A plate holder adapted to support plates in an etching process comprising apair of handles having gripping jaws extending therefrom, one of said jaws having a gripping surface, the other of said jaws having a flat work engaging'surface which extends outwardly beyond the end of said first mentioned jaw, and an angle member attached to said last mentioned jaw and extending transversely thereof.

RUDOLPH STURM. 

